The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-12-31
AUNT POLLY'S CAR RIDE.

4.
~. p. Garter, In LOufsriie Couie,,.Journak
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AUNT .POLLY'S CAR RIDE.
Her Ready Response to tho Gall
Of Duty.
The town of Franklin, like many other
little towns. had never been disturbed by
the sound of steam whistle or the rattle
OF railroad train. Tho heavy rumble Of
the stage e-coach, as it regularly came in at
night, was excitement enough for the quiet
taste OF the villagers. The sound of it's
wheels as it approached seemed to be heard
by nearly every person, and when it drew
up in front Of the post-office, the streets
which had been almost wholly deserted
during the day were crowded with an eager
and interested throng. II no passengers
were seen to alight from the carriage
which was usually the case, the crowd
wouldturn disappointedly away, or wait
Tor the mail to DO distributed, and then, in
half an hour oil would be quiet again.
Among those who, on these occasions,
gathered at the door of what served the vii.
lage as general depot might usually bo
seen the ssprghtly form Of an elderly lady,
who, advancing with somewhat timid
step, would peer over tho tops of her Spec
tacles with peculiarly amusing express
sion OF curiosity. This, as all the villagers
very well knew, was none other than Aunt
Polly. Her only home was with her sister
Susan, and her chief interests were for her
sisters family. Her principal duties con-
sisted in starching the linen, mending the
clothes aud taking care Of the kitchen No
one was allowed to wash the dishes and
clean the silver but Aunt Polly. She was
scrupulously neat and tidy wherever she
had sway. and woe to the fly or other in
sect which might By any possibility be
lured within her domains for, should such
an intruder attempt to settle where her
eye could see and her hand could reach.
slap would descend her instrument Of
death with almost fatal results.
But though she was strict and scrupulous
In the performance of these self.imposed
duties in her sisters home, Aunt Polly
seemed to belong to the whole neighbor-
hood. II any one should be taken seriously
ill, Aunt Polly was soon at the sufferers
side. If an accident occurred to man,
woman or child, from some unknown
source, Aunt Polly would bring forth cor
dials and liniments and bandages, and ap-
ply with her own hands, If possible, the re-
cverybody's friend. and, while svme might
smile at her oddities, all treated her with
peculiar consideration.
Although rapidly nearing the Scripture
Init of three score years and ten, Aunt
Polly had never seen the cars. Indeed, It
had been long time since she had seen
any thing outside OF Franklin For over
thirty years she had stayed at home, done
the housework, and, when Susan was away,
looked after things in general. She never
went anywhere and never expected to 90.
expect, perhaps to spend an afternoon oc.
casionally with some neighboring friend.
She could never understand s'why folks
should want to be allthe time cantin' about,
wearin out their lives, and reskin' their
necks on the railroads." She had one
brother. MI. Henry Malvern, who resided
in the city, and who every summer visited
his sister in Franklin. Though often and
urgently invited to return with him to his
home, Aunt Polly could never be persuaded
10 50, partly because she disliked travelling
and partly because Of her dread OF the cars.
ono day, however, note was received
containing information which seemed to
make 1t necessary to put all considerations
Of personal preference aside. The note
read as follows
f"Poly and Susan are needed at once. We
expect TO lose our daughter Grace. We want
you both to be here. Come tomorrow, II pos
sible. et r + HENRY.o ,
''The poor gal is sickw exclaimed Aunt
Polly; land can see by this letter that
heary's folks are dretful scarf"
q But what could be donel 1t so happened
that Susan and her family were away, aud
would mot return for week. Aunt Polly
was left in charge OF tho premises and o
neighbor had been engaged to stay with her
part OF the timc to keep her company.
For an old lady to think OF starting for the
city entirely alone seemed perfect madness.
To r. fuse to respond TO q brGther's entreat.
les at such time was certainly cruel. 1t
was surely vexing question; but the only
solution seemed to be to get somebody to
write letter (for Aunt Polly had long been
out Of practice with pen), and then leave
the '.poor girl'' to her fate. Forum ately,
however, Aunt Polly was conscientious
soul, and 1t had long been her rule never to
neglect plain and dunmstakable duty, how
ever unpleasant its performance might be.
She had become much attached to her
pretty niece during the young lsdy's visit
in the country, about two years previous,
and the thought that she was very Ill and
possibly dying touched her heart and
reused her courage Moreover. she felt
perfectly confident that d quantity of roots
and herbs properly compounded and judi
( ciously administered, would be more effica-
cious than all the medical skill the city
could produce. t
$ sits right that should go,n she said, at
length, decidedly, ''au,t II Pm cut up and
bLini alive in v raili oud accident, shall
die a. tho post OF duty" fNt .t,1s{
~ And the preparations at once again.
Her old fashioned silk was selected from
her limited wardrobe, and her best bonnet,
y which had not been worn for fifteen years,
was brushed until 1t looked as bright aud
attractive as it could have done tho day it
was bought. 81. u k.
"Henry won't expect me to make much
spread about dress, c0nsiderin' the circum-
stances" she said. 1.-THE most important
Z thing 10 TO have plenty OF good, strong, thor
oushwort ten and good supply Of pepper
mink And I'D better take some lobelis
snd some OF my extract Of bslsam; and beins
that eeu't know whist silp the dear ssss'